Entre as quadras e o cuidado: uma experiência de uma estudante de enfermagem atleta no esporte universitário

Abstract

Given the relevance of addressing the relationship between university sports practice and nursing academic training, highlighting the complexity of the experiences of students who live this dual journey, this study is a report on the experience of a nursing student and university athlete. To this end, it was necessary to describe the mainchallenges and contributions of this experience to her academic development, analyze the coping mechanisms for reconciling curricular demands with the routine of sports, reflect on the development of skills relevant to professional performance, and highlight the physical, mental, and social impacts of this dual journey as an undergraduate student and university athlete. Therefore, a qualitative approach was conducted, based on descriptive and observational methods. Therefore, it was found that this multifaceted journey is characterized by the difficulty of reconciling athletic commitments with the intense academic workload, the lack of institutional regulations that ensure the rights of students/athletes and consider their particularities, and the use of sport as a powerful tool in promoting health, providing significant improvements in physical, mental, and social aspects, as well as quality of life. It also enhances the development of fundamental professional skills in nursing, such as teamwork, empathy, leadership, and self-care. Therefore, it was possible to conclude that sport goes beyond the physical realm, broadening the understanding of the nursing educational process by valuing these extracurricular experiences as legitimate and complementary dimensions of the comprehensive training of future healthcare professionals.